Its so hard to say good bye.........

We were fortunate enough to have Nick's family out to visit for Christmas/his birthday. I was happy for him to be able to spend that time with them. After the holidays they flew back home and we had family time for the rest of the week 28th-2. Eva had her 4 month well baby appointment on the 29th and as the doctor said several times she's one very healthy baby and we're doing a great job. :)The New Year came upon us fast, 2010 was such an amazing year for me and I dreaded entering 2011. But it has arrived we spent it as a quiet evening watching the ball drop (an hour early for us) and then heading to bed. Nick headed back to work on Monday Jan. 3, he only had to work a few hours that day so we went and got Eva's 4 month shots. She was a trooper and didn't complain. That night Jimmy and Ali came over for dinner, I made one of Nick's favorites, Pasta Carbonera. After Jimmy and Ali left Nick and I battled each other some good ole Tetris on facebook...... of course I whooped his but several times! The following day Tues. Jan. 4 was a very hard, and very long day for myself and I'm sure Nick as well. Nick left for work at 10a, around noon Ali came and picked Eva and I up. We headed to base and hung out with Nick all day in the CP while he ran around getting stuff organized and ready to go. His platoon was to head out that night to Kentucky to join up with another Unit, then on to Afghanistan for a year long tour. It was a lot different than when Nick headed to Iraq. For starters in Iraq they left at like 3am and I was the only family member hanging out with the boys so late. This time there were so many families there, kids, pets, parents and spouses. When Nick was told the bus would be arriving soon we decided to pack up the car and send Eva and I home. Watching Nick interact with Eva, place her in the car seat, carry her to the car and say good bye in that back seat was the hardest thing to watch in the world. It brought tears hard and fast, as hard as I tried to hold them back so he wouldn't see was impossible. I gave him a big hug and didn't want to let go.
We then said our I love yous, see you soons and kissed as I walked around to get in the car. I backed out of the parking lot and drove away waving to my soldier as we drove past. This year will be a very long, hard year, I have a beautiful angel to take care of and motivate me every day. We look forward to the day her daddy gets to come home to us again.
This is how I found Eva the morning after her daddy left, cuddling with her daddy bear!